Car Thief and Burglar Joshua Plant Caught After Midnight Crime Spree
Joshua Plant sparked chaos on the night of Friday 13 October 2023. Without permission, he took a friend’s car and prowled the Cliffsend area from around 11:30pm, attempting to break into several homes.
Snatched Handbag and Watch Caught on CCTV
Plant successfully broke into a property on Beech Grove, making off with a handbag and a watch. His daring raid was caught on CCTV, capturing his every move.
Residents Spot Suspect, Police Swiftly Move In
- Locals noticed Plant acting suspiciously, trying door handles.
- kent.police.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Kent Police" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Kent Police were quickly on the scene following reports.
- Officers identified Plant from witness descriptions and arrested him around 12:30am — during the arrest, he even assaulted an officer.
Police recovered the stolen watch nearby. Meanwhile, the car Plant had taken was found crashed in a field near Nash Road.
22-Year-Old Admits String of Charges, Sentenced to 21 Months
East Kent CID charged Plant with aggravated vehicle taking, burglary, assaulting an emergency worker, and eight counts of attempted burglary. Hailing from Westbrook Road, Margate, the 22-year-old pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 21 months at Canterbury Crown Court on 2 May 2024. He was also banned from driving for a hefty 683 days.
Detective Constable Georgie Taker said: “Plant committed a series of offences in a short space of time, upsetting a lot of residents. Through the vigilance of the community and the availability of technology such as doorbell cameras, officers were able to present a strong case against him, resulting in this prison sentence.”
